Window scroll-bar

ABSTRACT

A method, system, and program product for generating a window scroll-bar. In the preferred embodiment, a controller displays the window scroll-bar on a display screen. The window scroll-bar contains sections associated with respective windows on the display. The window scroll-bar also contains a slider, which moves within a section and between sections. As the slider moves within a particular section, the window associated with that section moves on the display toward the nearest boundary of the display. Thus, by moving the window scroll-bar slider, the user can move overlapping windows out of the way and find the window of interest.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates in general to improved informationprocessing systems. In particular, the present invention relates to amethod and system for the generation of a window scroll-bar.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Early computer systems were controlled by batch operatingsystems. These systems had limited interaction with users of the system.An operator needed to load the job to be run and then send the output toa printer. With the advent of time-sharing operating systems, such asthe IBM System 370, interactive computing became the norm. Time-sharingoperating systems allowed many users to use the computer's resourcessimultaneously, so that all users appeared to have their own computersystem. All users had their own terminal, which was connected to thecentral computer system. This terminal typically consisted of a displayand a keyboard. To the user, this terminal appeared to be an interactivecomputer system in its own right.

[0003] With the advent of computer systems that allowed trulyinteractive computer applications came a proliferation of userinterfaces. Some of these interfaces were command driven, others wheremenu driven, but they all allowed the user to work on only one task orapplication from a given terminal at a time.

[0004] Today, the state-of-the-art for computer systems and userinterfaces has advanced beyond the single-task interface. Inexpensive,personal computers and workstations with powerful, graphics processorsand multi-tasking, operating systems have changed the way users interactwith computer systems. With these operating systems, the user cansimultaneously work on many tasks at once, each task being confined toits own display panel, called a window. This interface allows thepresentation of multiple windows in potentially-overlappingrelationships on a display screen. The user can thus retain a window onthe screen while temporarily superimposing a further window entirely orpartially overlapping the retained window. This enables users to diverttheir attention from a first window to one or more secondary windows forassistance and/or reference, so that overall user interaction can beimproved. There can be many windows with active applications running atonce. As the number of open windows becomes large and the screen becomescluttered, it becomes more and more difficult for the user to find thedesired window because it may be overlaid by several other windows.

[0005] In order to find the desired window, current systems allow theuser to reduce overlying windows to icons (symbols that represent thewindows) by clicking the mouse button while the mouse cursor ispositioned on a minimize button. Reducing a window to an icon issometimes called “minimization”. This method suffers from thedisadvantage that when the window is reduced to an icon, the user cannotsee the window contents. Many times when an application in a window isrunning, the user might wish to see the window contents. By seeing allor a portion of the window contents, the user has a better chance ofdetermining when the application is complete or needs attention.

[0006] In an attempt to address these problems of minimization, someoperating systems create a “task bar”, which contains icons for allrunning tasks. The task bar is always present, regardless of the amountof space that the windows take up on the remaining area of the desktop.The task bar contains icons for all running tasks, regardless of whetherthe tasks are minimized, maximized, or take up some portion of thedesktop. When the user selects an icon in the task bar, the operatingsystem brings that task to the foreground of the desktop. The task barsuffers from the problem that it is an all-or-nothing solution; that is,in order to determine the contents of the window, the user must bringthe entire window to the foreground. Further, the user might not be ableto determine which is the desired window by examining the icons in thetask bar, and thus may repeatedly need to bring different windows to theforeground in order to find the desired window.

[0007] Another method of finding the desired window is for the user tooperate the mouse pointer to “grab” overlying windows, “drag” them, and“drop” them to the side or partially off the screen. In this method, theuser positions the mouse pointer in some portion of the window (such asthe title bar) and clicks and holds a mouse button (the grabbingaction). The window then moves with the mouse pointer (the draggingaction). When the window is positioned in the desired area, the userreleases the mouse button (the dropping action). Grabbing, dragging, anddropping take too much of the user's time and divert the user'sattention from the primary work inside the desired window.

[0008] For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a windowinginterface that permits the user to quickly and easily find the window ofinterest amidst the clutter of the desktop.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The invention is a method and system for generating a windowscroll-bar. In the preferred embodiment, a controller displays thewindow scroll-bar on a display screen. The window scroll-bar containssections associated with respective windows on the display. The windowscroll-bar also contains a slider, which moves within a section andbetween sections. As the slider moves within a particular section, thewindow associated with that section moves on the display toward thenearest boundary of the display. Thus, by moving the window scroll-barslider, the user can move overlapping windows out of the way and findthe window of interest.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation of a computer system that canbe utilized to implement a preferred embodiment.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a representative hardware environmentof the processing unit of the computer system illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of software stored within the memory ofthe computer system depicted in FIG. 1.

[0013]FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 are pictorial representationsof the interfaces that a user can operate to control the operation of apreferred embodiment.

[0014]FIGS. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 are flowcharts thatdescribe the operation of the preferred embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0015] Detailed Description

[0016] With reference now to the figures and in particular withreference to FIG. 1, there is depicted an embodiment of a computersystem that can be utilized to implement the preferred embodiment.Computer system 110 includes processing unit 112, display device 114,keyboard 116, pointing device 118, printer 120, and speakers 126.Processing unit 112 receives input data from input devices such askeyboard 116, pointing device 118, and local area network interfaces(not illustrated) and presents output data to a user via display device114, printer 120, and speakers 126.

[0017] Keyboard 116 is that part of computer system 110 that resembles atypewriter keyboard and that enables a user to control particularaspects of the computer. Because information flows in one direction,from keyboard 114 to processing unit 112, keyboard 116 functions as aninput-only device. Functionally, keyboard 116 represents half of acomplete input/output device, the output half being video displayterminal 114. Keyboard 116 includes a standard set of printablecharacters presented in a “QWERTY” pattern typical of most typewriters.In addition, keyboard 116 includes a calculator-like numeric keypad atone side. Some of these keys, such as the “control,” “alt,” and “shift”keys can be utilized to change the meaning of another key. Other specialkeys and combinations of keys can be utilized to control programoperations or to move either text or cursor on the display screen ofvideo-display terminal 114.

[0018] Video-display terminal 114 is the visual output of computersystem 110. As indicated herein, video-display terminal 114 can be acathode-ray tube (CRT) based video display well-known in the art ofcomputer hardware. But, with a portable or notebook-based computer,video-display terminal 114 can be replaced with a liquid crystal display(LCD) based or gas, plasma-based, flat-panel display.

[0019] Pointing device 118 is preferably utilized in conjunction with agraphical user-interface (GUI) in which hardware components and softwareobjects are controlled through the selection and the manipulation ofassociated, graphical objects displayed within display device 114.Although computer system 110 is illustrated with a mouse for pointingdevice 118, other graphical-pointing devices such as a graphic tablet,joystick, track ball, touch pad, or track pad could also be utilized.Pointing device 118 features a casing with a flat bottom that can begripped by a human hand. Pointing device 118 can include buttons on thetop, a multidirectional-detection device such as a ball on the bottom,and cable 129 that connects pointing device 118 to processing unit 112.

[0020] To support storage and retrieval of data, processing unit 112further includes diskette drive 122, hard-disk drive 123, and CD-ROMdrive 124, which are interconnected with other components of processingunit 112, and which are further described below under the descriptionfor FIG. 2.

[0021] Computer system 110 can be implemented utilizing any suitablecomputer such as the IBM Aptiva computer, a product of InternationalBusiness Machines Corporation, located in Armonk, N.Y. But, a preferredembodiment of the present invention can apply to any hardwareconfiguration that allows the display of windows, regardless of whetherthe computer system is a complicated, multi-user computing apparatus, asingle-user workstation, or a network appliance that does not havenon-volatile storage of its own.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 2, there is depicted a block diagram of theprincipal components of processing unit 112. CPU 226 is connected viasystem bus 234 to RAM (Random Access Memory) 258, diskette drive 122,hard-disk drive 123, CD-ROM drive 124, keyboard/pointing-devicecontroller 284, parallel-port adapter 276, network adapter 285, displayadapter 270, and modem 287. Although the various components of FIG. 2are drawn as single entities, each may consist of a plurality ofentities and may exist at multiple levels.

[0023] Processing unit 112 includes central processing unit (CPU) 226,which executes instructions. CPU 226 includes the portion of computersystem 110 that controls the operation of the entire computer system,including executing the arithmetical and logical functions contained ina particular computer program. Although not depicted in FIG. 2, CPU 226typically includes a control unit that organizes data and programstorage in a computer memory and transfers the data and otherinformation between the various parts of the computer system. CPU 226generally includes an arithmetic unit that executes the arithmetical andlogical operations, such as addition, comparison, and multiplication.CPU 226 accesses data and instructions from and stores data to volatileRAM 258.

[0024] CPU 226 can be implemented as one of the 80×86 or Pentiumprocessors, or any other type of processor, which are available from anumber of vendors. Although computer system 110 is shown to contain onlya single CPU and a single system bus, the present invention appliesequally to computer systems that have multiple CPUs and to computersystems that have multiple buses that each perform different functionsin different ways.

[0025] RAM 258 comprises a number of individual, volatile-memory modulesthat store segments of operating system and application software whilepower is supplied to computer system 110. The software segments arepartitioned into one or more virtual-memory pages that each contain auniform number of virtual-memory addresses. When the execution ofsoftware requires more pages of virtual memory than can be stored withinRAM 258, pages that are not currently needed are swapped with therequired pages, which are stored within non-volatile storage devices 122or 123. RAM 258 is a type of memory designed such that the location ofdata stored in it is independent of the content. Also, any location inRAM 258 can be accessed directly without needing to start from thebeginning.

[0026] Hard-disk drive 123 and diskette drive 122 are electromechanicaldevices that read from and write to disks. The main components of a diskdrive are a spindle on which the disk is mounted, a drive motor thatspins the disk when the drive is in operation, one or more read/writeheads that perform the actual reading and writing, a second motor thatpositions the read/write heads over the disk, and controller circuitrythat synchronizes read/write activities and transfers information to andfrom computer system 110. A disk itself is typically a round, flat pieceof flexible plastic (e.g., floppy disk) or inflexible metal (e.g. harddisk) coated with a magnetic material that can be electricallyinfluenced to hold information recorded in digital form. A disk is, inmost computers, the primary method for storing data on a permanent orsemipermanent basis. Because the magnetic coating of the disk must beprotected from damage and contamination, a floppy disk (e.g., 5.25 inch)or micro-floppy disk (e.g., 3.5 inch) is encased in a protective plasticjacket. But, any size of disk could be used. A hard disk, which is veryfinely machined, is typically enclosed in a rigid case and can beexposed only in a dust free environment.

[0027] Keyboard/pointing-device controller 284 interfaces processingunit 112 with keyboard 116 and graphical-pointing device 118. In analternative embodiment, keyboard 116 and graphical-pointing device 118have separate controllers.

[0028] Display adapter 270 translates graphics data from CPU 226 intovideo signals utilized to drive display device 114.

[0029] Finally, processing unit 112 includes network adapter 285, modem287, and parallel-port adapter 276, which facilitate communicationbetween computer system 110 and peripheral devices or other computersystems. Parallel-port adapter 276 transmits printer-control signals toprinter 120 through a parallel port. Network adapter 285 connectscomputer system 110 to an unillustrated local area network (LAN). A LANprovides a user of computer system 110 with a means of electronicallycommunicating information, including software, with a remote computer ora network logical-storage device. In addition, a LAN supportsdistributed processing, which enables computer system 110 to share atask with other computer systems linked to the LAN.

[0030] Modem 287 supports communication between computer system 110 andanother computer system over a standard telephone line. Furthermore,through modem 287, computer system 110 can access other sources such asa server, an electronic bulletin board, and the Internet or World WideWeb.

[0031] The configuration depicted in FIG. 1 is but one possibleimplementation of the components depicted in FIG. 2. Portable computers,laptop computers, and network computers or Internet appliances are otherpossible configurations. The hardware depicted in FIG. 2 may vary forspecific applications. For example, other peripheral devices such asoptical-disk media, audio adapters, or chip-programming devices, such asPAL or EPROM programming devices well-known in the art of computerhardware, may be utilized in addition to or in place of the hardwarealready depicted.

[0032] As will be described in detail below, aspects of the preferredembodiment pertain to specific method steps implementable on computersystems. In an alternative embodiment, the invention may be implementedas a computer program-product for use with a computer system. Theprograms defining the functions of the preferred embodiment can bedelivered to a computer via a variety of signal-bearing media, whichinclude, but are not limited to, (a) information permanently stored onnon-writable storage media (e.g., read-only memory devices within acomputer such as CD-ROM disks readable by CD-ROM drive 124); (b)alterable information stored on writable storage media (e.g., floppydisks within diskette drive 122 or hard-disk drive 123); or (c)information conveyed to a computer by a communications media, such asthrough a computer or telephone network, including wirelesscommunications. Such signal-bearing media, when carryingcomputer-readable instructions that direct the functions of the presentinvention, represent alternative embodiments of the present invention.

[0033] With reference now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated ablock-diagram representation of the software configuration of computersystem 110. As noted above, the software executed by computer system 110can be stored within one or more of RAM 258, the nonvolatile storageprovided by diskette drive 122, hard-disk drive 123, CD-ROM drive 124,or a remote server accessible via modem 287 or network adapter 285.

[0034] As illustrated, the software configuration of computer system 110includes operating system 390, which is responsible for directing theoperation of computer system 110. For example, operating systemstypically include computer software for controlling the allocation andusage of hardware resources such as memory, CPU time, disk space, andperipheral devices. Other technologies also could be utilized, such astouch-screen technology or human-voice control. The operating system isthe foundation upon which applications 395, such word-processing,spreadsheet, and web-browser programs are built.

[0035] In accordance with the preferred embodiment, operating system 390includes graphical-user-interface (GUI) 392 manager although they couldbe packaged separately. GUI 392 manages the graphical user-interfacewith which a user of computer system 110 interacts.

[0036] Operating system 390 also includes window scroll-bar controller399. Window scroll-bar controller 399 contains executable instructions312 and user profile 309. Although window scroll-bar controller 399 isdrawn as being included in operating system 390, they could be packagedseparately. User profile 309 contains information that the user can setto direct the operation of window scroll-bar controller 399. Userprofile 309 is further described below under the description of FIG. 5.Referring again to FIG. 3, CPU 226 is suitably programmed to carry outthe preferred embodiment by executable instructions 312, as described inmore detail in the flowcharts of FIGS. 12-19. In the alternative, thefunctions of FIGS. 12-19 could be implemented by control circuitrythrough the use of logic gates, programmable-logic devices, or otherhardware components in lieu of a processor-based system.

[0037] Operating system 390 communicates with applications 395 throughmessages conforming to the syntax of the application-program interface(API) supported by operating system 390. Operating system 390 furthercommunicates with graphical-pointing device-driver 396, printerdevice-driver 397, and display-adapter device-driver 398. For example,operating system 390 sends graphics data to display-adapterdevice-driver 398, which in turn translates the messages into bussignals utilized to control display adapter 270. In addition,graphical-pointing device-driver 396 translates signals from pointingdevice 118 through keyboard/pointing-device controller 284 intoCartesian coordinates and a selection status, which are then relayed toGUI manager 392. Also, operating system 390 sends printer-control codesand data to printer device driver 397, which in turn translates thecontrol codes and data into bus signals used to control printer 120.

[0038] FIGS. 4-11 illustrate pictorial representations of the interfacesthat are used to control the operations of the preferred embodiment.Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown desktop 400 displayed on display114. Desktop 400 includes task bar 410, which contains icons 411, 412,413, 414, and 415, which correspond to active windows 451, 452, 453,454, and 455, respectively. Also contained within desktop 400 are iconsLAN printers 420 and create-window scroll-bar 430. When the user selectscreate-window scroll-bar 430 using pointing-device pointer 460,controller 399 displays the dialog shown in FIG. 5, below, and creates awindow scroll-bar as further described below in FIGS. 6-11, and 12.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 5, there is illustrated create-windowscroll-bar dialog 500, which controller 399 displays and processes inresponse to the user selecting create-window scroll-bar 430, aspreviously described above under the description for FIG. 4. Controller399 stores the user-selected options described by dialog 500 in userprofile 309. Referring again to FIG. 5, dialog 500 containsproportional-space button 510, identify-sections button 520, scroll-barwindow-order button 530, z-order button 540, and left-rightspatial-representation button 550.

[0040] When the user selects button 510, controller 399 creates a windowscroll-bar on the desktop such that each displayed window has a sectionon the scroll bar in proportion to the amount-of-use of the window. Whenthe user selects button 520, controller 399 will identify the scroll-barsections in the window scroll-bar by either color of the associatedwindow 522, title of the associated window 524, or by icon of theassociated window 526.

[0041] When the user selects scroll-bar window-order button 530,controller 399 orders the window sections in the scroll bar by last used532, most used 534, most-used-weighted-by-last-used 532, order ofactivation 538, or by user choice 539. Last used 532 means that thewindows are ordered sequentially on the scroll bar with the window thatwas used most recently being on the top and the window that was usedleast recently being on the bottom. Most used 534 means that windows areordered on the scroll bar so that the window in which the user spent themost time is positioned at the top of the scroll bar and the window inwhich the user spent the least time is positioned on the bottom of thescroll bar. Most-used-weighted-by-last-used 536 means that controller399 orders the windows on the scroll bar by balancing those windows nearthe top of the scroll bar that are most heavily used with those that arelast used. Thus, a window that the user peeks at for a small amount oftime will get less priority than one that the user spent an hour lookingat. But, if the user keeps looking at the window, that window will moveabove the other, more heavily-used windows on the scroll bar dependingon the weights in the priority algorithm used by controller 399. Orderof activation 538 means that controller 399 orders the windows on thescroll bar with the window that the user activated first being placed atthe top of the scroll bar and the window that the user activated lastbeing at the bottom of the scroll bar, regardless of when the windowswere last used or how heavily the windows were used. Time of“activation” refers to the time that the application associated with thewindow was started. Alternatively, it could refer to the time that theapplication was converted from an icon state to a windowed state. Userchoice 539 means that the user can order the windows on the windowscroll-bar according to the user's preference.

[0042] Z-order tied to window-order 540 means that controller 399 willchange the z-order of the windows on desktop 400 to match the order ofthe window sections in the window scroll-bar. “Z-order” refers to theorder of the windows on the Z-axis. In a Cartesian coordinate system,the x-axis is usually thought of as being the horizontal axis, they-axis is usually thought of as being the vertical axis and the z-axisis usually thought of as being the depth of the display screen. In theexample shown in FIG. 4, z-order refers to the order of the windows onthe display screen with respect with their relative depth. For example,window 451 would have the highest order within the z-order since it isdisplayed on top. Window 452 would be lower in the z-order, followed bywindow 453, and then by window 455. Just from looking at the example inFIG. 4, it is impossible to determine where window 454 would bepositioned in the z-order, although it is surely below windows 452 and451.

[0043] Left-right spatial representation 550 means that controller 399will create a left-right window scroll-bar, as further described belowunder the description for FIGS. 9, 10, and 11, and FIG. 19.

[0044] Referring to FIG. 6, there is illustrated desktop 600, whichcontroller 399 created in response to the user selecting create windowscroll-bar 430. Controller 399 created window scroll-bar 605, containingwindow sections 651, 652, 653, 654, and 655, corresponding to windows451, 452, 453, 454, and 455, respectively. Controller 399 put the titleof each respective window in window scroll-bar section 651-655 becausethe user previously selected window title 524. Controller 399 createdeach of window scroll-bar sections 651-655 of a different size inproportion to the user's previous use of the window because the userpreviously selected proportional use 510. Window section 651 is at thetop of window scroll-bar 605 because window 451 was the last window tobe used, and the user previously selected last used 532. Window section655 is at the bottom of window scroll-bar 605 because window 455 was thefirst window to be used and the user previously selected last used 532.Controller 399 has ordered the other window sections 652, 653, and 654based on their use. Controller 399 placed slider 670 at the top ofwindow scroll-bar 605 and in window section 651, which is associatedwith window 451. Reference numerals 681, 682, 683, and 684 refer todashed lines that represent the boundaries of window sections 651, 652,653, 654, and 655 in window scroll-bar 605.

[0045] Referring to FIG. 7, in response to the user dragging slider 670from the top of window scroll-bar 605 to its current position in windowsection 655, controller 399 has moved window 451 to the lower left-handcorner of desktop 600, window 452 to the upper left-hand corner ofdesktop 600, window 453 to the upper right-hand corner of desktop 600,and window 454 to the lower right-hand corner of desktop 600. Sinceslider 670 is positioned in the top of the window scroll-bar section655, window 455 remains in the same position in desktop 600 in FIG. 7 asit was in FIG. 6. The operation of controller 399 in response to theuser dragging slider 670 is further described below under thedescription for FIGS. 15, 16, and 19.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 8, there is illustrated an embodiment forcontroller 399, in which as the slider moves along window scroll-bar805, controller 399 gradually fades the next window into view. Thus, inthe example shown, slider 870 straddles boundary 884 between windowscroll-bar sections 854 and 855. In response to this position of slider870, controller 399 has partially displayed the contents of window 864and window 865, as illustrated by the dashed lines. The operation ofthis embodiment of controller 399 is further described below in theflowcharts of FIGS. 17 and 18.

[0047] Referring to FIGS. 9, 10, and 11, there are illustrated examplesof the operation of controller 399 in response to the user selectingleft-right spatial representation 550. Referring to FIG. 9, controller399 has displayed desktop 900 on display screen 114. Desktop 900includes window scroll-bar 905. Controller 399 has positioned slider 970within window scroll-bar section 951, which is associated with window961. Controller 399 placed slider 970 within the middle of section 951because window 961 is disposed horizontally in the middle of desktop900. The ratio of width 990 to width 991 is proportional to the ratio ofwidth 992 to width 993. Slider 970 has a width 990 that is one-quarterthe width 991 of scroll bar 905 because width 992 of window 961 isone-quarter the width 993 of the displayable area of desktop 900.Distance 996 is the distance from the left edge of window scroll-bar 905to the left edge of slider 970. Distance 997 is the distance from theright edge of slider 970 to the right edge of window scroll-bar 905.Distance 994 is the distance from the left edge of desktop 900 to theleft edge of window 961. Distance 995 is the distance from the rightedge of window 961 to the right edge of the displayable area of desktop900. The ratio of distance 996 to distance 997 is proportional to theratio of distance 994 to distance 995.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 10, controller 399 has displayed desktop 1000and window scroll-bar 1005 on display screen 114 after the user hasmoved slider 1070 into window scroll-bar section 1051 associated withwindow 1061. Controller 399 placed slider 1070 in the right portion ofwindow scroll-bar 1005 because window 1061 is disposed horizontally inthe right portion of the displayable area of desktop 1000. Slider 1070has a width 1090 that is three-quarters the width 1091 of scroll bar1005 because width 1092 of window 1061 is three-quarters the width 1093of the displayable area of desktop 1000. Thus, the ratio of width 1090to width 1091 is proportional to the ratio of width 1092 to width 1093.Distance 1096 is the distance from the left edge of window scroll-bar1005 to the left edge of slider 1090. Distance 1094 is the distance fromthe left edge of desktop 1000 to the left edge of window 1061. The ratioof distance 1096 to distance 1091 is proportional to the ratio ofdistance 1094 to distance 1093.

[0049] Referring to FIG. 11, controller 399 has displayed desktop 1100and window scroll-bar 1105 on display screen 114 after the user hasmoved slider 1170 into window scroll-bar section 1151 associated withwindow 1161. Controller 399 placed slider 1171 in the left portion ofwindow scroll-bar 1105 because window 1161 is disposed horizontally inthe left portion of the displayable area of desktop 1100. Slider 1170has a width 1190 that is one-half the width 1191 of scroll-bar 1105because width 1192 of window 1161 is one-half the width 1193 of thedisplayable area of desktop 1100. Thus, the ratio of width 1190 to width1191 is proportional to the ratio of width 1192 to width 1193. Distance1197 is the distance from the right edge of slider 1170 to the rightedge of window scroll-bar 1105. Distance 1195 is the distance from theright edge of window 1161 to the right edge of the displayable area ofdesktop 1100. The ratio of distance 1197 to distance 1191 isproportional to the ratio of distance 1195 to distance 1193.

[0050] FIGS. 12-19 are flowcharts that describe the operation of thepreferred embodiment. Referring to FIG. 12, there is illustrated anexample of the main logic of controller 399 that creates a windowscroll-bar. At block 1200, controller 399 starts. Control then continuesto block 1202 where controller 399 creates the window scroll-bar on thedesktop. Control then continues to block 1204 where controller 399determines whether the user requested that the window sections in thescroll bar be directly proportional to the window use, as shown bybutton 510 in FIG. 5. Referring again to FIG. 12, if the determinationat block 1204 is true, then control continues to 1206 where controller399 creates the window scroll-bar sections for each window and giveseach window a size on the window scroll-bar proportional to thefrequency of window use. Control then continues to block 1208.

[0051] If the determination at block 1204 is false, then controlcontinues directly to block 1208 where controller 399 determines whetherthe user previously requested that the scroll-bar window-order be lastused as selected by button 532 in FIG. 5. Referring again to FIG. 12, ifthe determination at block 1208 is true, then control continues to block1210 where controller 399 orders the window sections on the scroll barby the last use of the windows. Control then continues to block 1215, asdescribed below. If the determination at block 1208 is false, thencontrol continues to block 1217 where controller 399 determines whetherthe user has previously selected button 534 which indicates that theorder of the window sections on the scroll bar is to be sorted by mostused. If the determination at block 1217 is true, then control continuesto block 1219 where controller 399 orders the sections on the scroll barby frequency of window use. Control then continues to block 1215, asdescribed above. Control then continues to block 1215, as describedbelow.

[0052] If the determination at block 1217 is false, then controlcontinues to block 1221 where controller 399 determines whether the userrequested that the order of the sections on the window scroll-bar bemost-used-weighted-by-last-used, as illustrated by button 536 in FIG. 5.Referring again to FIG. 12, if the determination at block 1221 is true,then control continues to block 1223 where controller 399 orders thewindow sections on the scroll bar by recency of use balanced byfrequency of use. Control then continues to block 1215, as describedbelow.

[0053] If the determination at block 1221 is false, then controlcontinues to block 1225 where controller 399 determines whether the userrequested that the window sections on the scroll bar be ordered byactivation, as illustrated by button 538 in FIG. 5. Referring again toFIG. 12, if the determination at block 1225 is true, then controlcontinues to block 1227 where controller 399 orders the sections on thewindow scroll-bar by order of window activation. Control then continuesto block 1215, as described below.

[0054] If the determination at block 1225 is false, then controlcontinues to block 1229 where controller 399 determines whether thesections on the window scroll-bar are to be ordered by user choice, asindicated by button 539 in FIG. 5. Referring again to FIG. 12, if thedetermination at block 1229 is true, then control continues to block1231 where controller 399 orders the sections on the window scroll-barby user choice. Control then continues to block 1215, as describedbelow.

[0055] If the determination at block 1229 is false, then controlcontinues directly to block 1215 where controller 399 determines whetherthe user requested that window sections in the scroll bar be identifiedby window color, as illustrated by button 522 in FIG. 5. Referring againto FIG. 13, if the determination at block 1215 is true, then controlcontinues to block 1233 where controller 399 paints the respectivewindow sections in the window scroll-bar with the colors of theirassociated, respective windows. Control then continues to block 1235, asdescribed below.

[0056] If the determination at block 1215 is false, then controlcontinues to block 1237 where controller 399 determines whether the userrequested that the window scroll-bar sections be identified by windowtitle. If the determination at block 1237 is true, then controlcontinues to block 1239 where controller 399 displays the titleassociated with the various windows in their respective, windowscroll-bar sections. Control then continues to block 1235, as describedbelow.

[0057] If the determination at block 1237 is false, then controlcontinues to block 1241 where controller 399 determines whether the userrequested that the window scroll-bar sections be identified by windowicon, as illustrated by button 526 in FIG. 5. Referring again to FIG.13, if the determination at block 1241 is true, then control continuesto block 1243 where controller 399 displays the window icons associatedwith each window in their respective, window scroll-bar section. Controlthen continues to block 1235, as described below.

[0058] If the determination at block 1241 is false, then controlcontinues directly to block 1235 where controller 399 determines whetherthe user requested that the z-order of the windows in the desktop betied to the window scroll-bar section order. If the determination atblock 1235 is true, then control continues to block 1245 wherecontroller 399 changes the displayed z-order of the windows in thedesktop to match the window scroll-bar section order. Control thencontinues to block 1247 where the function returns.

[0059] If the determination at block 1235 is false, then controlcontinues directly to block 1247 where the function returns.

[0060] Referring to FIG. 14, there is illustrated a flowchart for afunction in controller 399 that responds to window events that theapplication running in the window does not handle. When the windowapplication receives an event that it does not handle, the windowapplication sends it to a system-supplied routine, which is often calledthe default window procedure. FIG. 14 illustrates a flowchart for logicto handle events related to the window scroll-bar and would be executedas part of the default window procedure. Referring to block 1400,control begins. Control then continues to block 1405 where controller399 determines whether there is an active window scroll-bar. If thedetermination at block 1405 is false, then control continues to block1410 where controller 399 performs the standard processing for unknownwindow events. Control then controller to block 1499 where the functionreturns.

[0061] If the determination at block 1405 is true, then controlcontinues to block 1415 where controller 399 determines whether theevent received is a “get focus” event. A “get focus” event can be causedby the user requesting that the window that receives the “get focus”event be brought to the foreground and be ready for user interaction. Ifthe determination at block 1415 is false, then control continues toblock 1410 as previously described above.

[0062] If the determination at block 1415 is true, then controlcontinues to block 1420 where controller 399 sends an “end” event to thelogic represented by FIGS. 15 and 16. Control then continues to block1410, as previously described above.

[0063] Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, there are illustrated flowchartsthat respond to events associated with the window scroll-bar. Controlbegins at block 1500. Control then continues to block 1502 wherecontroller 399 determines, for each window active on the desktop, whichcorner of the desktop is closest to that window. Control then continuesto block 1504 where controller 399 determines, for each window, whichcorner of the window is farthest from the closest desktop corner. In analternative embodiment, controller 399 uses any boundary of the window,which might or might not be a corner of the window. For example,controller 399 could use the nearest horizontal or vertical boundary, orif the desktop is circular or oval in shape, controller 399 coulddetermine the nearest edge of the desktop from the window. Control thencontinues to block 1506 where controller 399 positions the slider at thetop of the window scroll-bar. Control then continues to block 1508 wherecontroller 399 determines the horizontal slider location and size, asdescribed below under the description for FIG. 19. Control thencontinues to block 1510 where controller 399 gets the next event.Control then continues to block 1512 where controller 399 determineswhether the event is a slider-move event.

[0064] If the determination at block 1512 is true, then controlcontinues to block 1514 where controller 399 determines which windowscroll-bar section contains the slider. Control then continues to block1516 where controller 399 moves the window associated with the regiondetermined above in block 1514 and places the window in proportion fromthe desktop corner with the distance of the slider to the currentsection's end. Control then continues to block 1518 where controller 399determines the slider size and horizontal location within the windowscroll-bar, as described below under the description for FIG. 19.Referring again to FIG. 15, control then returns to block 1510, aspreviously described above.

[0065] If the determination at block 1512 is false, then controlcontinues to block 1520 where controller 399 determines whether theevent received at block 1510 is a “tab to next” event. If thedetermination at block 1520 is true, then control continues to block1522 where controller 399 determines whether the slider is positioned inthe bottom section of the window scroll-bar. If the determination atblock 1522 is true, then control returns to block 1510, as previouslydescribed above.

[0066] If the determination at block 1522 is false, then controlcontinues to block 1524 where controller 399 positions the slider on thenext boundary between window sections in the window scroll-bar. Controlthen continues to block 1526 where controller 399 determines the slidersize and horizontal location within the window scroll-bar, as describedbelow under the description for FIG. 19. Referring again to FIG. 15,control then continues to block 1528 where controller 399 moves theprevious section's window just off the desktop. Control then returns toblock 1510, as previously described above.

[0067] If the determination at block 1520 is false, then controlcontinues to block 1605 in FIG. 16 where controller 399 determineswhether the event retrieved at block 1510 is an “end” event. An endevent would have been sent from the default window procedure previouslydescribed above under the description for FIG. 14. Referring again toFIG. 16, if the determination at block 1605 is true, then controlcontinues to block 1610 where controller 399 moves all windows on thedesktop back to the original position that they held when the userselected create window scroll-bar icon 430. Controller 399 also removesthe window scroll-bar from the display. Control then returns to block1510 as previously described above.

[0068] If the determination in block 1605 is false, the controlcontinues to block 1615 where controller 399 performs the standardwindow processing for the received event. Control then returns to block1510, as previously described above.

[0069] Referring to FIG. 17, there is illustrated a flowchart thatdescribes logic in controller 399 that processes the window scroll-barin the embodiment that fades a window in and out of view. At block 1700,control begins. Control then continues to block 1702 where controller399 positions the slider at the top of the scroll bar. Control thencontinues to block 1704 where controller 399 retrieves the next event.Control then continues to block 1705 where controller 399 initializesthe splat-rate variable to one, the shoot-thru variable to zero, and thesplatter-adjust variable to zero. Control then continues to block 1706where controller 399 determines whether the event previously retrievedat block 1704 is a slider-move event.

[0070] If the determination at block 1706 is true, then controlcontinues to block 1708 where controller 399 calculates the percentageof the slider that is in each window scroll-bar section. Control thencontinues to block 1710 where controller 399 blocks subsequent updatesfrom occurring in all desktop areas except for those areas in or abovethe window whose slider percentage decreased when compared with theprevious slider-move event. Control then continues to block 1712 wherecontroller 399 calculates a splat rate using the slider percentage andthe previous slider percentage of the window whose slider percentagedecreased. The splat rate equals the previous slider-percentage minusthe current slider-percentage divided by the previous slider-percentage.

[0071] Control then continues to block 1714 where controller 399refreshes every window above (in the z-order) the window whose sliderpercentage decreased, using the splat rate calculated in block 1712above, as further described below under the description for FIG. 18.Thus, the effect of the action of controller 399 in blocks 1710, 1712,and 1714 is to fade out the window whose slider percentage decreased byrefreshing the windows on top of it in the z-order. Referring again toFIG. 17, control then continues to block 1716 where controller 399removes the update block previously established above at block 1710.

[0072] Control then continues to block 1718 where controller 399determines whether there exits a window whose slider percentageincreased. If the determination of block 1718 is true, then controlcontinues to block 1720 where controller 399 calculates a shoot-throughrate and a splatter-adjust rate. The shoot-through rate equals theslider percentage for the window whose slider percentage increased minusthe previous slider percentage for the window whose slider percentageincreased divided by one minus the previous slider percentage of thewindow whose slider percentage increased. The splatter adjust rateequals (slider-percentage minus (previous slider-percentage times splatrate)) divided by (one minus (previous slider-percentage times splatrate)). Control then continues to block 1722 where controller 399refreshes the window whose slider percentage increased using thecalculated shoot-through rate and splatter-adjust rate, as furtherdescribed below under the description for FIG. 18. Thus, the effect ofthe action of controller 399 in blocks 1720 and 1722 is to fade in(brighten) the window whose slider percentage increased. Referring againto FIG. 17, control then returns to block 1704, as previously describedabove.

[0073] If the determination at block 1718 is false, then controlcontinues directly to block 1704, as previously described above.

[0074] If the determination at block 1706 is false, then controlcontinues to block 1724 where controller 399 determines whether thereceived event is an “end” event. If the determination at block 1724 istrue, then control continues to block 1726 where controller 399 sends anormal refresh event to all windows in the desktop, as further describedbelow under the description for FIG. 18. Referring again to FIG. 17,control then continues to block 1727 where controller 399 removes thewindow scroll-bar from the display. Control then continues to block 1728where the function returns.

[0075] If the determination at block 1724 is false, then controlcontinues to block 1730 where controller 399 performs normal eventprocessing for the received event. Control then returns to block 1704 aspreviously described above.

[0076] Referring to FIG. 18, there is illustrated a flow chart showingsample logic for a function and controller 399 that refreshes a windowon the desktop. The splattering action previously described above underthe description for FIG. 17 has as its purpose to fade a window. Thewindow being refreshed, as described in FIG. 18, is not the one beingfaded, but is the one being used to fade the window below it. At block1800 control starts. Control then continues to block 1802 wherecontroller 399 enters a loop for every pixel in the window. When thereare no more pixels to process, control continues to block 1899 where thefunction returns.

[0077] As long as there are pixels in the window to process, the loopcontinues from block 1802 to block 1805 where controller 399 retrieves arandom number between 0 and 1. Control then continues to block 1810where controller 399 determines whether the pixel to be written is in ablocked region. (A region can be blocked as previously described abovein blocks 1710 of FIG. 17. A region can also be blocked if it is belowanother window in the z-order.) Referring again FIG. 18, if thedetermination at block 1810 is true, then control continues to block1815 where controller 399 determines whether the blocked region waspreviously splattered, which would have occurred when a differentinvocation of the logic of FIG. 18 was called from block 1714, aspreviously described above under the description for FIG. 17. Referringagain to FIG. 18, if the determination at block 1815 is true, thencontrol continues to block 1820 where controller 399 determines whetherthe retrieved random number is less than the splatter-adjust rate. (Thesplatter-adjust rate was previously calculated at block 1720 in FIG. 17and is used to brighten regions that were inadvertently faded bysplattering.) Referring again to FIG. 18, if the determination at block1820 is false, then control returns to block 1802, as previouslydescribed above.

[0078] If the determination at block 1820 is true, then controlcontinues to block 1840 where controller 399 sets the pixel. Controlthen returns to block 1802, as previously described above.

[0079] If the determination at block 1815 is false, then controlcontinues to block 1830 where controller 399 determines whether therandom number is less than the shoot-through percentage. (Theshoot-through percentage was previously calculated above at block 1720in FIG. 17.) Referring again to FIG. 18, if the determination at block1830 is false, then control returns to block 1802, as previouslydescribed above.

[0080] If the determination at block 1830 is true, then controlcontinues to block 1825 where the pixel is set. Control then returns toblock 1802, as previously described above.

[0081] If the determination at block 1810 is false, then controlcontinues to block 1835 where controller 399 determines whether therandom number retrieved is less than the splat rate. (The splat rate waspreviously calculated above under the description for block 1712 in FIG.17.) If the determination at block 1835 is true, then control continuesto block 1825 where controller 399 sets the pixel. Control then returnsto block 1802, as previously described above. If the determination atblock 1835 is false, then control returns directly to block 1802, aspreviously described above.

[0082] Referring to FIG. 19, there is illustrated a flow chart depictingsample logic that determines the slider size and horizontal location. Atblock 1900, control begins. Control then continues to block 1905 wherecontroller 399 determines whether the user previously selected widthview, as previously described above by button 550 in FIG. 5. Referringagain to FIG. 19, if the determination of block 1905 is false, thencontrol continues to block 1910 where controller 399 displays a standardslider on the window scroll-bar. Control then continues to block 1999where the function returns.

[0083] If the determination at block 1905 is true, then controlcontinues to block 1915 where controller 399 calculates the width of theslider in proportion to the width of the window associated with thewindow scroll-bar section that the slider is in. Control then continuesto block 1920 where controller 399 calculates the horizontal position ofthe slider within the window scroll-bar in proportion to the horizontalposition of the associated window within the displayable area of thedesktop. Control then continues to block 1925 where controller 399displays the slider with the calculated size and the calculatedhorizontal location within the window scroll-bar. Control then continuesto block 1999 where the function returns. The operation of the logic ofFIG. 19 was previously described above under the description for FIGS.9, 10, and 11.

[0084] While this invention has been described with respect to thepreferred and alternative embodiments, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in detail may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit, scope, and teaching of the invention.For example, windows may become widely employed in consumer applicationssuch as operator panels for consumer electronics, appliances, andautomobiles. Accordingly, the herein disclosed invention is to belimited only as specified in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for generating a window scroll-bar,comprising: displaying the window scroll-bar on a display, wherein thewindow scroll-bar comprises a plurality of sections associated with aplurality of respective windows on the display; displaying a sliderwithin the window scroll-bar; and when the slider moves within asection, moving a respective window associated with the section on thedisplay.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the moving step furthercomprises: moving the associated window toward the closest boundary ofthe display as the slider moves from the top of the section to thebottom of the section.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the boundary isa corner of the display.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the boundaryis an edge of the display.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein the movingstep further comprises: moving the associated window toward the closestboundary in proportion to the slider moving within the section.
 6. Themethod of claim 2, further comprising: when the slider crosses aboundary between sections, the associated respective window switches. 7.The method of claim 1, wherein the slider moves in response to userinput.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sectionscomprise a color of the respective, associated window.
 9. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of sections comprise a title of therespective, associated window.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein theplurality of sections comprise an icon of the respective, associatedwindow.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying thewindow scroll-bar further comprises: ordering the plurality of sectionsin the window scroll-bar by last use of the respective, associatedwindow.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying thewindow scroll-bar further comprises: ordering the plurality of sectionsin the window scroll-bar by most use of the respective, associatedwindow.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying thewindow scroll-bar further comprises: ordering the plurality of sectionsin the window scroll-bar by most use weighted by last use of therespective, associated window.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein thestep of displaying the window scroll-bar further comprises: ordering theplurality of sections in the window scroll-bar by time since activationof the respective, associated window.
 15. The method of claim 1, whereinthe step of displaying the window scroll-bar further comprises: orderingthe plurality of sections in the window scroll-bar by user choice. 16.The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the windowscroll-bar further comprises: creating a size of each of the pluralityof sections, wherein the section size is proportional to use of therespective, associated window.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein thestep of displaying the window scroll-bar further comprises: changing az-order of the plurality of windows to match the order of the pluralityof sections in the window scroll-bar.
 18. An apparatus that generates awindow scroll-bar, comprising: a processor; memory coupled to theprocessor; a controller residing in the memory and executing on theprocessor, wherein the controller displays the window scroll-bar on adisplay, wherein the window scroll-bar comprises a plurality of sectionsassociated with a plurality of respective windows on the display, andwherein the controller displays a slider within the window scroll-bar,wherein when the slider moves within a section, a respective windowassociated with the section moves on the display.
 19. The apparatus ofclaim 18, wherein the associated window moves toward the closestboundary of the display as the slider moves from the top of the sectionto the bottom of the section.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein theboundary is a corner of the display.
 21. The apparatus of claim 19,wherein the associated window moves toward the closest corner inproportion to the slider moving within the section.
 22. The apparatus ofclaim 19, further comprising: when the slider crosses a boundary betweensections, the associated respective window switches.
 23. The apparatusof claim 18, wherein the slider moves in response to user input.
 24. Theapparatus of claim 18, wherein the plurality of sections comprise acolor of the respective, associated window.
 25. The apparatus of claim18, wherein the plurality of sections comprise a title of therespective, associated window.
 26. The apparatus of claim 18, whereinthe plurality of sections comprise an icon of the respective, associatedwindow.
 27. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the controller furtherorders the plurality of sections in the window scroll-bar by last use ofthe respective, associated window.
 28. The apparatus of claim 18,wherein the controller further orders the plurality of sections in thewindow scroll-bar by most use of the respective, associated window. 29.The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the controller further orders theplurality of sections in the window scroll-bar by most use weighted bylast use of the respective, associated window.
 30. The apparatus ofclaim 18, wherein the controller further orders the plurality ofsections in the window scroll-bar by time since activation of therespective, associated window.
 31. The apparatus of claim 18, whereinthe controller further orders the plurality of sections in the windowscroll-bar by user choice.
 32. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein thecontroller further creates a size of each of the plurality of sections,wherein the section size is proportional to use of the respective,associated window.
 33. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the controllerfurther changes a z-order of the plurality of windows to match the orderof the plurality of sections in the window scroll-bar.
 34. A programproduct that generates a window scroll-bar, comprising: a controllerthat displays the window scroll-bar on a display, wherein the windowscroll-bar comprises a plurality of sections associated with a pluralityof respective windows on the display, and wherein the controllerdisplays a slider within the window scroll-bar, wherein when the slidermoves within a section, a respective window associated with the sectionmoves on the display; and signal-bearing media bearing the controller.35. The program product of claim 34, wherein the associated window movestoward the closest boundary of the display as the slider moves from thetop of the section to the bottom of the section.
 36. The program productof claim 35, wherein the closest boundary is a corner of the display.37. The program product of claim 35, wherein the associated window movestoward the closest corner in proportion to the slider moving within thesection.
 38. The program product of claim 35, further comprising: whenthe slider crosses a boundary between sections, the associatedrespective window switches.
 39. The program product of claim 34, whereinthe slider moves in response to user input.
 40. The program product ofclaim 34, wherein the plurality of sections comprise a color of therespective, associated window.
 41. The program product of claim 34,wherein the plurality of sections comprise a title of the respective,associated window.
 42. The program product of claim 34, wherein theplurality of sections comprise an icon of the respective, associatedwindow.
 43. The program product of claim 34, wherein the controllerfurther orders the plurality of sections in the window scroll-bar bylast use of the respective, associated window.
 44. The program productof claim 34, wherein the controller further orders the plurality ofsections in the window scroll-bar by most use of the respective,associated window.
 45. The program product of claim 34, wherein thecontroller further orders the plurality of sections in the windowscroll-bar by most use weighted by last use of the respective,associated window.
 46. The program product of claim 34, wherein thecontroller further orders the plurality of sections in the windowscroll-bar by time since activation of the respective, associatedwindow.
 47. The program product of claim 34, wherein the controllerfurther orders the plurality of sections in the window scroll-bar byuser choice.
 48. The program product of claim 34, wherein the controllerfurther creates a size of each of the plurality of sections, wherein thesection size is proportional to use of the respective, associatedwindow.
 49. The program product of claim 34, wherein the controllerfurther changes a z-order of the plurality of windows to match the orderof the plurality of sections in the window scroll-bar.
 50. A programproduct that generates a window scroll-bar, comprising: a controllerthat displays the window scroll-bar on a display, wherein the windowscroll-bar comprises a plurality of sections associated with a pluralityof respective windows on the display, and wherein the controllerdisplays a slider within the window scroll-bar, wherein when the slidermoves into a section, the controller fades into view a respective windowassociated with the section; and signal-bearing media bearing thecontroller.
 51. The program product of claim 50, wherein when the slidermoves out of the section, the controller fades out of view therespective window associated with the section.
 52. The program productof claim 50, wherein the controller further calculates a percentage ofthe slider that is in the section, and wherein the controller bases anumber of pixels displayed within the respective window on the sliderpercentage within the section.